A United Kingdom (UK)-based Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), IA-Foundation, which was set up to reduce the number of out-of-school children in Nigeria, at the weekend, partnered with the Mayor of Southwark, Councillor Michael Situ, to host an event in London to raise awareness and funds to help pick up vulnerable children off the streets.
Founder of the Foundation, Ibironke Adeagbo, a chartered accountant, said in her opening remarks that there was a correlation between illiteracy and insecurity.
She said that the reason for the increase in insecurity in Nigeria was because we did not pay attention to out-of-school children menace ages ago and those children had now grown up without skills and could only resort to crimes to survive.
Besides, confirmed that the Foundation would work with the Federal Government, as well as the Northern Governors’ Forum, to find a lasting solution to the menace.
She, therefore, urged the government to empower the newly-established parastatal for out-of-school children and Almajiri to act as a police and enforcer to reduce out-of-school children in Nigeria.
Adeagbo said that the Foundation is planning for a bigger fund-raising in Lagos on March 2, 2024, to raise funds to put the children back in schools.
The Acting Nigeria’s High Commissioner to the UK, Ambassador Cyprian Heen, who is also the special guest of honour at the event, stressed the importance of education and that the government could not do it all, saying: “We should all socially invest in getting these children off the streets so that they can be economically active in future and pay taxes for the economic development of Nigeria.”
He, however, reiterated the commission’s commitment to support the IA-Foundation’s wonderful initiative.
The host of the event, Situ, in his remarks, said education is the only thing that can enable people to discover their potential and achieve in life.
Chairman of the Foundation, Jide Olagundoye, also said that the NGO would be resolute in bringing down the number of out-of-school children in Nigeria. Guardian
